Watling Street | Roman road, United Kingdom | Britannica.com Watling Street Tower Bridge Watling Street, Roman road in England that ran from Dover west-northwest to London and thence northwest via St. Albans (Verulamium) to Wroxeter (Ouirokónion, or Viroconium). It was one of Britain’s greatest arterial roads of the Roman and post-Roman periods. The name came from a group of Anglo-Saxon settlers who called Verulamium by the name of Wætlingaceaster. This local name passed to the whole of the Roman road (Wæclinga stræt) by the 9th century. The tendency to give the name to other main roads is postmedieval and is often mere antiquarianism. Learn More in these related articles: ancient Rome the state centred on the city of Rome. This article discusses the period from the founding of the city and the regal period, which began in 753 bc, through the events leading to the founding of the republic in 509 bc, the establishment of the empire in 27 bc, and the final eclipse of the Empire of...

Dover (England, United Kingdom) town (parish) and seaport on the Strait of Dover, Dover district, administrative and historic county of Kent, southeastern England. Situated on the English Channel at the mouth of a valley in the chalk uplands that form the famous white cliffs, Dover is the closest English port to the European... London (national capital, United Kingdom) city, capital of the United Kingdom. It is among the oldest of the world’s great cities—its history spanning nearly two millennia—and one of the most cosmopolitan. By far Britain’s largest metropolis, it is also the country’s economic, transportation, and cultural... 1 Reference found in Britannica Articles Assorted Reference Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article! Contact our editors with your feedback. MEDIA FOR: You have successfully emailed this. Error when sending the email. Try again later. Edit Mode Submit Tips For Editing We welcome suggested improvements to any of our articles. You can make it easier for us to review and, hopefully, publish your contribution by keeping a few points in mind. Encyclopædia Britannica articles are written in a neutral objective tone for a general audience.

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Related subjects: Geography of Great Britain The modern Watling Street crossing the Medway at Rochester near the Roman and Celt crossings Watling Street is the name given to an ancient trackway in England and Wales that was first used by the Celts mainly between the modern cities of Canterbury and St Albans. The Romans later paved the route, part of which is identified on the Antonine Itinerary as Iter III: "Item a Londinio ad portum Dubris" - from London to the port of Dover. The name derives from the Anglo-Saxon Wæcelinga Stræt, which has come to be understood as the A2 road from Dover to London, and then the A5 road from London to Wroxeter. Originally the word "street" simply meant a paved road (Latin: "via strata"), and did not have the modern association with populated areas. History Roman A Roman road known as Iter III went from London to Dover.

The last section of the long Iter II route from Hadrian's Wall travelled through Viroconium (now Wroxeter in Shropshire), past Letocetum (modern day Wall), Manduessedum (modern day Mancetter - possible site of Boudica 's last battle), Venonis (modern day High Cross), Bannaventa, Lactotorum (modern day Towcester - near another possible site of Boudica's last battle)), then through Stony Stratford and Magiovinium ( Fenny Stratford) in modern day Milton Keynes , Durocobrivis (modern day Dunstable), Verulamium (near modern-day St Albans in Hertfordshire) and London (including the modern Old Kent Road) to Rutupiae (now Richborough in Kent) on the southeast coast of England . While another section of Iter II linked Wroxeter to Chester, and other roads went into north Wales and central Wales, these are not generally considered to be part of Watling Street. Thus the Roman routes which comprise Watling Street are all of Iter III and the middle southern section of Iter II.

Main section Roman Britain, with the route of Watling Street in red The main section of the road is that from Dover to Wroxeter. It was named Wæcelinga Stræt by the Anglo-Saxons, literally "the street of the people of Wæcel". Wæcel could possibly be a variation of the Anglo-Saxon word for 'foreigner' which was applied to the Celtic people inhabiting what is now Wales. This source also gave us the name for Wæclingacaester (the Anglo-Saxon name for Verulamium) and it seems likely that the road-name was originally applied first to the section between that town and London before being applied to the entire road. Subsidiary routes Stone Street ran south for some 12 miles from Watling Street at Canterbury (the Roman Durovernum) to Lympne (Lemanis) at the western edge of the Romney Marsh. Most of it is now the current B2068 road that runs from the M20 motorway to Canterbury . Another Stone Street from Magnae (Kenchester) to Caerleon.

Battle of Watling Street Part of the route was the site of the Roman victory at the Battle of Watling Street in 61 AD between the Roman governor Gaius Suetonius Paulinus and the Briton leader Boudica . Danelaw In the 9th century , Watling Street was used as the demarcation line between the Anglo-Saxon and Danish-ruled parts of England. The Treaty of Wedmore required the defeated Danes to withdraw to an area north and east of Watling Street, thus establishing the Danelaw. Pilgrims Way Like most of the Roman road network, the Roman paving fell into disrepair when the Romans left Britain, although the route continued to be used for centuries afterwards. It is likely that Chaucer's pilgrims used Watling Street to travel from Southwark to Canterbury in his Canterbury Tales. Turnpike The road north of London became a Turnpike when in 1706 the section from Hockliffe to Dunchurch was paved.

The road was re-paved in the early 19th century by Thomas Telford who brought it back into use as a turnpike road for use by mail coaches bringing mail to and from Ireland , his road being extended to the port of Holyhead on the Isle of Anglesey in Wales . At this time the section south of London became known as the Great Dover Road. The toll system ended in 1875. Modern road A paving stone on Kilburn High Road in London commemorates the route of Watling Street Most of the road is still in use today apart from a few sections where it has been diverted. The stretch of the road between London and Dover is today known as the A2, and the stretch between London and Shrewsbury is today known as the A5 (which now continues to Holyhead). Through Milton Keynes , the A5 is diverted onto a new dual-carriageway and Watling Street forms part of the new town's grid system and carries the additional designation V4.

The name of the town of Wellington, Shropshire, which lies just east of Shrewsbury, is believed to be a corruption of the word 'Watling town' as Watling Street supposedly ran straight through the centre of Wellington. Continued use of the name along the ancient road The use of the street name is retained along the ancient road in many places: for instance, to the south east of Roman London in Greenwich and on into Kent (including the towns of Canterbury , Gillingham, Rochester, Gravesend, Dartford, and Bexleyheath). Similarly north of London, the name Watling Street still occurs in Hertfordshire (including St Albans), Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire (including Milton Keynes ), Northamptonshire (including Towcester), Leicestershire, Warwickshire (including Nuneaton), Staffordshire (including Cannock, Wall and Lichfield), Shropshire and Gwynedd. Other Watling Streets A Watling Street still exists in the City of London , close to Mansion House underground station, though this is unlikely to be on the route of the original Roman road which traversed the River Thames via the first London Bridge .

In Lancashire, Watling Street is the Roman Road through Affetside which leads from Manchester to Ribchester. The Roman Road from Catterick (Cataractonium) to Corbridge (Corstopitum) and onto the Antonine Wall also came to be known as Watling Street, with perhaps a similar Anglo-Saxon etymology owing to its path into the foreign land of Scotland . This route is also known as Dere Street. This may also be the case for another Watling Street between Manchester (Mancunium) and Ribchester (Bremetennacum) which ultimately led to another 'foreign land' in Saxon times, that of Cumbria. A Watling Street Road exists to this day in the city of Preston, Lancashire. It connects the districts of Ribbleton and Fulwood and passes the site of Sharoe Green Hospital. Retrieved from " " The 2008 Wikipedia for Schools is sponsored by SOS Children , and is a hand-chosen selection of article versions from the English Wikipedia edited only by deletion (see for details of authors and sources).

The articles are available under the Watling Street facts, information, pictures | Encyclopedia.com articles about Watling Street The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright The Columbia University Press Watling Street (wŏt´lĬng), important ancient road in England, built by the Romans in the course of their military occupation. It ran from London generally north to the intersection with the Fosse Way, c.13 mi (21 km) SW of Leicester, and thence in a westerly direction to Wroxeter in Salop, SE of Shrewsbury, a distance of more than 100 mi (161 km). The principal town through which it passed was Saint Albans (ancient Verulamium). Its later importance arose from its use as a thoroughfare throughout the Middle Ages and into modern times. In places the ancient Roman road is still in daily use, and in others it has been used as a base for modern thoroughfares. Some other Roman roads in England are also called Watling Street, notably the extension which led from London to Dover. Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA A5 Watling Street north of Markyate (C) Nigel Cox :: Geograph Britain and Ireland IMPORTANT: Please read the Buckets Article before picking from this list A5 Watling Street north of Markyate Watling Street was the Roman Road that went from Dover to Wroxeter via London, partially following an ancient trackway between settlements at what are now Canterbury and St Albans. On the day several hours of persistent rain have forced the road surface water run off to flood into this layby. Markyate Cell is beyond the trees to the left. Watling Street : Map (The Full Wiki) The Full Wiki Map showing all locations mentioned on Wikipedia article: Watling Street is the name given to an ancient trackway in England and St Albans . The Romans later paved the route, part of which is identified on the Antonine Itinerary as Iter III: "Item a Londinio ad portum Dubris" - from London to the port of Dover . The name derives from the Old English Wæcelinga Stræt, which has come to be understood as the A2 road from Dover to London, and then the A5 road from London to Wroxeter .

Originally the word "street" simply meant a paved road (Latin: "via strata"), and did not have the modern association with populated areas. History British The Roman road followed the broad, grassy trackway already used by the Britons for many hundreds of years, although the newer road was made to follow a more direct course. It led from Richborough in the south-east by way of a ford of the Thames at present-day Westminster , where one section went on to Holyhead and another, by way of Chester , on towards Scotland. Roman Roman Britain, with the route of Watling Street in red A Roman road recorded in the Antonine Itinerary as "Iter III" linked London and Dover. The last section of the long Iter II route from Hadrian's Wall in Kent ) on the southeast coast of England . While another section of Iter II linked Wroxeter to Chester, and other roads were built into north Wales and central Wales, these are not generally considered to be part of Watling Street. Thus the Roman routes which comprise Watling Street are all of Iter III and the middle-southern section of Iter II. Main section The main section of the road is that from Dover to Wroxeter.

It was named Wæcelinga Stræt by the Anglo-Saxons, meaning "the paved road pertaining to the people of Wæcel". Wæcel could, possibly, be a variation of the Old English word for 'foreigner' which was applied to the Celtic people inhabiting what is now Wales. This place-name element also gave us the name for Wæclingacaester (the early English name for Verulamium) and it seems likely that the road-name was originally applied first to the section between that town and London before being applied to the entire road. A number of ancient names that contain the Old English element stræt testify to the ancient route of Watling Street: Boughton Street and the main Roman legionary base in the south of Roman Wales . Battle of Watling Street Part of the route was the site of the Roman victory at the Battle of Watling Street in 61 AD between the Roman governor Gaius Suetonius Paulinus and the Briton leader Boudica . Danelaw In the 9th century, Watling Street was used as the demarcation line between the Anglo-Saxon and Danish-ruled parts of England.

The Treaty of Wedmore required the defeated Danes to withdraw to an area north and east of Watling Street, thus establishing the Danelaw . Chaucer's Pilgrims Like most of the Roman road network, the Roman paving fell into disrepair when the Romans left Britain, although the route continued to be used for centuries afterwards. It is likely that Chaucer 's pilgrims used Watling Street to travel from Southwark in his Canterbury Tales . Turnpike The road north of London became a Turnpike firstly in 1707 when the section from Fourne hill north of Hockliffe was paved following an Act of Parliament on March 4th 1707. This was the first Turnpike Trust and showed how financially hazardous the undertaking could be. The Fourne hill to Stony Stratford case provides more evidence that Parliament would void undertakers’ rights if they were negligent. The trustees for the Fourne hill to Stony Stratford road borrowed more than 7000 pounds in 1707 and 1708 to improve the road.

The creditors, however, claim to have been misinformed regarding the expected revenues from the tolls, and requested in 1709 that a new act extend the term and increase the tolls. A new act was passed in 1709 extending the term, but the tolls were not increased. It also included a provision that the creditors could take receivership of the tolls if the trustees had not repaid their debts by 1711. Apparently, the trustees were unable to borrow and the creditors took over the tolls. In 1716,Parliament tried to clarify the situation by passing an act that vested authority in the trustees from the 1709 act and another group appointed by the Justices of the Peace for Buckinghamshire. The 1716 act was not amended for its entire term of 23 years, but once it was set to expire,Parliament decided that it would not renew the rights of the existing trustees for the Fourne hill to Stony Stratford road. In 1736, the trustees submitted a petition for an extension of their rights, but it failed to pass and in 1739 their authority ended.

In 1740, a new act was passed naming a replacement body of trustees. In the petition for the new bill, the inhabitants of Buckinghamshire described the road as being ‘ruined.’ This sentiment was affirmed by theMember heading the committee for the bill. The road was re-paved in the early 19th century by Thomas Telford who brought it back into use as a turnpike road for use by mail coaches bringing mail to and from Ireland , his road being extended to the port of Holyhead in Wales . At this time the section south of London became known as the Great Dover Road . The toll system ended in 1875. Modern road Most of the road is still in use today apart from a few sections where it has been diverted. The stretch of the road between London and Dover is today known as the A2 , and the stretch between London and Shrewsbury is today known as the A5 (which now continues to Holyhead ). The sections of the road which pass through Central London are known by a variety of names, including Edgware Road .

At Blackheath the Roman road's exact path is uncertain: either diverting towards Deptford Bridge like the modern A2, or staying on a straight line through Greenwich to cross the mouth of Deptford Creek. Through Milton Keynes , the A5 is diverted onto a new dual-carriageway and Watling Street forms part of the new town's grid system and carries the additional designation V4. Continued use of the name along the ancient road The use of the street name is retained along the ancient road in many places: for instance, to the south east of Roman London and on into Kent (including the towns of Canterbury Watling Street - Wikishire Watling Street The A5 - Watling Street, in Warwickshire Watling Street approaches the Wrekin near Wroxeter Watling Street is a route defined by a Roman road across Great Britain which is to this day marked by busy routes, principally the A5 from London to Shropshire . Bearing the hallmark of a Roman road, much of its route is in straight lines. There are two principal routes named 'Watling Street', which may be taken as one road.

It is the road leading from Marble Arch in the West End of London northwest, initially as the Edgware Road, to St Albans (Roman Verulamium) and thence up through the Chilterns and northwest across the Midlands . It also refers to the road through Kent from the ancient port of Richborough in Kent to Canterbury and ultimately to London. 'Watling Street' is also the name of a small street in the City of London which might have been part of the original route. The Kentish part of the road is identified on the late-Roman Antonine Itinerary as Iter III: "Item a Londinio ad portum Dubris" – from London to the port of Dover . That route is now marked by the A2 road from Dover to London, while the longer Midlands road is marked by the A5 from London to Wroxeter in Shropshire. Contents 6 References Name The Roman road from Londinium (London) to Deva Victrix ( Chester ) was known as the Via Devana (the Deva Way). The name of the route through Kent is unknown.

The name "Watling Street" is later, and appears in the Anglo-Saxon period; it is named in Old English as Wætlingastræt or on one occasion Wæcelinga stræt (which may be a misreading), and as Wæxlinga stræt. The English word stræt ('street') is a borrowing from Latin, "via strata", and referred to a paved road. The meaning would usually be Wæta's people's street, though any such origin is long lost. In Old English sources St Albans , amongst other names, is called Wæclingacaester: neah ðære ceastre ðe Romane heton Verolamium, seo nu fram Angelðeode Werlameceaster oþþe Wæclingaceaster It may be therefore that the Wætlingas were people of St Albans and the road is named after that town, as the road from London to Wætlingaceaster. The Chronicle of Florence of Worcester for the year 1013, gives a mythical explanation, namely that this was the road which the sons of King Weatla made across England.

Route Watling Street near Crick, Northamptonshire Kent : Watling Street begins at the sea, in Dover , and runs inland to the ancient capital of Kent, Canterbury . From here it runs west to Blackheath and to north-eastern Surrey and on to London . London : There is dispute as to whether to trace the route to London Bridge and into the City of London (where there is a road named 'Watling Street') or to a presumed ford at Vauxhall and thence up Park Lane or thereabouts to Marble Arch. It may have gone to the ford until the Romans built the first London Bridge into London itself. Middlesex : From the site of the Tyburn tree , at the northeast corner of Hyde Park , the Edgware Road begins, which is Watling Street, designated the A5. The road runs in a straight line northwest through the West End to Kilburn and on to Edgware , a little beyond which the route is disrupted by the M1 motorway (and stops being the A5), but heads north towards St Albans . Hertfordshire .

In a straight line through Radlett and Park Street , Watling Street reaches St Albans ; the Roman Verulamium and Anglo-Saxon Wætlingaceaster. Once it ran straight to the site of Verulamium but now the road diverts away over the River Ver to the city centre before following the Ver valley straight up to Redbourn , becomes the A5 again, passing Flamstead to Markyate . Bedfordshire : Watling Street, the A5 forms the main axis of Dunstable , and cuts through the county. Buckinghamshire : In Buckinghamshire, Watling Street is in Milton Keynes , the "A5" designation moving to an internal bypass but the arrow-straight road remaining in the road layout. The old villages, now districts, of Fenny Stratford and Stony Stratford are named from Watling Street. At the edge of Milton Keynes the street croses the Great Ouse and out of the county. Northamptonshire : North of the Great Ouse, Watling Street once formed the boundary of the Danelaw.

Its first village is Old Stratford , and then it has a long run across Northamptonshire, through Towcester , to Weeddon Bec , then paralleling the M1 motorway , Leicestershire / Warwickshire : Watling Street forms the border of these two counties for most of its length. Hinckley in Leicestershire stands to one side of it, but it is strangely devout of towns or villages until Atherstone , where the road is wholly within Warwickshire, and Tamworth , on the border with Staffordshire. Staffordshire and beyond: The road might be said to follow the ancient Via Devana to Chester, but definitions vary. Mediæval sources A Middle English source states that Watling Street runs: From Douere in to Chestre tilleþ Watlingestrete According to Trevisa it went: besides Wrokecestre, and then forth to Stratton, and so forth by the myddell of Wales unto Cardykan, and endeth atte Irisshe see.

[1] A number of ancient names that contain the Old English element stræt testify to the ancient route of Watling Street: Boughton Street , Kent; Colney Street , Hertfordshire; Fenny Stratford and Stony Stratford in Buckinghamshire; Old Stratford in Northamptonshire; Stretton under Fosse and Stretton Baskerville , both in Warwickshire; the three adjacent settlements of All Stretton , Church Stretton and Little Stretton in Shropshire; and Stretton Sugwas , Herefordshire. History The road at Richborough Castle, Kent Romans A Roman road recorded in the Antonine Itinerary as "Iter III" linked London and Dover.

The last section of the long Iter II route from Hadrian's Wall travelled through Viroconium Cornoviorum (in Shropshire ), past Letocetum (in Staffordshire), Manduessedum , Tripontium, Venonis (Leicestershire), Bannaventa near Norton in Northamptonshire, Lactodurum , then through Stony Stratford and Magiovinium , Durocobrivis (Bedfordshire) (where it crosses the even older Icknield Way ), Verulamium (near St Albans , Hertfordshire) and Londinium (by way of the ford at Thorney Island until London Bridge was finished, and the line of the modern Old Kent Road [2] ) to Rutupiae on the Kent coast. Another section of Iter II linked Wroxeter to Chester, and other roads were built to Anglesey and into the Cambrian Mountains , but these are not generally considered to be part of Watling Street.

Battle of Watling Street Part of the route was the site of the Roman victory at the Battle of Watling Street in 61 AD between the Roman governor Gaius Suetonius Paulinus and the Iceni leader, Queen Boudica. Danelaw In the 9th century, Watling Street was used as the demarcation line between the Anglo-Saxon and Danish-ruled parts of England. The Treaty of Wedmore divided England between Wessex and the defeated Danes, a line drawn up the River Lea and up the Great Ouse to Watling Street and then along Watling Street to North Wales. Beyond Watling Street lay the Danelaw. Though that border was effective as a frontier for barely a generation, it long remained a jurisdictional boundary and even today, north of the Ouse there are very few villages on the street itself. Watling Street forms the border between Warwickshire and Leicestershire. Middle Ages and modernity Paving stone on Kilburn High Road commemorating the route of Watling Street Like most of the Roman road network, the Roman paving fell into disrepair when the Romans left Britain, although the route continued to be used for centuries afterwards.

The Edgware Road became one of the major routes of Middlesex. The main coaching route from London to Dover remained the route of Watling Street. The road north of London became a turnpike road firstly in 1707 when the section from Fourne hill north of Hockliffe to Stony Stratford was paved following an Act of Parliament on 4 March 1707. [3] This was the first Turnpike Trust and showed how financially hazardous the undertaking could be. The Fourne hill to Stony Stratford case provides more evidence that Parliament would void undertakers' rights if they were negligent. The trustees for the Fourne hill to Stony Stratford road borrowed more than 7000 pounds in 1707 and 1708 to improve the road. The creditors, however, claim to have been misinformed regarding the expected revenues from the tolls, and requested in 1709 that a new act extend the term and increase the tolls. A new act was passed in 1709 extending the term, but the tolls were not increased.

It also included a provision that the creditors could take receivership of the tolls if the trustees had not repaid their debts by 1711. Apparently, the trustees were unable to borrow and the creditors took over the tolls. In 1716, Parliament tried to clarify the situation by passing an act that vested authority in the trustees from the 1709 act and another group appointed by the Justices of the Peace for Buckinghamshire. The 1716 act was not amended for its entire term of 23 years, but once it was set to expire, Parliament decided that it would not renew the rights of the existing trustees for the Fourne hill to Stony Stratford road. In 1736, the trustees submitted a petition for an extension of their rights, but it failed to pass and in 1739 their authority ended. In 1740, a new act was passed naming a replacement body of trustees. In the petition for the new bill, the inhabitants of Buckinghamshire described the road as being 'ruined.' This sentiment was affirmed by the Member heading the committee for the bill.

[4] The road was re-paved in the early 19th century by Thomas Telford who brought it back into use as a turnpike road for use by mail coaches bringing mail to and from Ireland, his road being extended to the port of Holyhead in Anglesey . At this time the section south of London became known as the Great Dover Road. The toll system ended in 1875. Continued use of the name along the ancient road The use of the street name is retained along the ancient road in many places: for instance, in Bexleyheath in Kent and on through the county (including the towns of Canterbury , Gillingham , Strood , Gravesend and Dartford ). North of Middlesex, the name 'Watling Street' still occurs in Hertfordshire (including St Albans ), Bedfordshire , Buckinghamshire ( Milton Keynes ), Northamptonshire (including Towcester ), Leicestershire , Warwickshire (including Nuneaton ), Staffordshire (including Cannock , Wall, Tamworth and Lichfield ) and Shropshire (including in Church Stretton as the residential Watling Street North and South).

Map of London around 1300 AD, showing Watling Street running north-west from London Bridge past Newgate A section of Watling Street still exists in the City of London close to Mansion House underground station on the route of the original Roman road which traversed the River Thames by way of the first London Bridge and ran through the City in a straight line from London Bridge to Newgate. [5] Outside links Watling Street - Roader's Digest: The SABRE Wiki Watling Street Kent • Middlesex • Hertfordshire • Bedfordshire • Buckinghamshire • Northamptonshire • Leicestershire • Warwickshire • Staffordshire • Shropshire Watling Street (RM1) was the main Roman Road from Dover to Wroxeter, Shropshire . The earliest London Bridges were a part of this road. The road was described by Ivan Margary in his book 'Roman Roads in Britain' (3rd edition 1973). It's numbered Road 1 and divided into sections 'a' to 'h'. Its length is 213½ miles.

Roman names for the settlements passed through by Watling Street are listed in the Antonine Itinerary Route II, an official document describing one of the 225 major roads across the Empire. The Itinerary also gives Roman mileages between settlements that are accurate to within 15%. Watling Street is listed Urioconio (Wroxeter, list no. 20) to Ad portum Ritupis (Richborough, no. 38). These route place-name numbers are given in the text below. Contents Section 10: Richborough to Canterbury 11½ miles Section 10 Although Margary gives Dover as the start of Watling Street, one of the earliest Roman roads went from Rutupiae (Richborough, place name no. 38) to Canterbury (Durovernum). The Richborough port was one of the main points of entry from Gaul. Its origins begin as an invasion fortress . The Roman road sets out from here due south west to east of Ash where it changes direction to align with the modern A257 to Canterbury . The road is straight throughout except for using the old road through Ash and the A257 veering south for 4 miles from Wingham to Littleborough.

It enters the city by crossing the A28 relief road. Durovernum, place name 37 was the civitas capital of the Cantiaci (Cantii) tribes. Section 1a: Dover to Canterbury 14½ miles Section 1a Once the invasion period was over, the Roman authorities settled on Dover as Britain's main exit to the continent and the road back to Rome. Archaeological excavations in the 1960s to 1980s provide good evidence for the fort and town of Portus Dubris (Antonine Itinerary Route III, place name no. 4). Strictly speaking the roads from Richborough and Dover to London are not Watling Street. The name was given in the Anglo Saxon period only to the route from Hyde Park Corner to Wroxeter, but it has extended to the entire route in recent centuries. The road leaves Dover as the A256 , climbing up the valley floor to a roundabout just short of Kearsney, when the A road turns north to meet the A2 and the Roman road passes through the village on the old A2 alignment and up past Lydden Hill.

Here it joins the A2 dual carriageway , passing Lydden Hill motor racing circuit on the left. Five miles further on the A2 bypasses Bridge while the Roman road passes through the village and, after a GSJ with the A2 at Renville, continues as the A2050 into Canterbury . Section 1b: Canterbury to Rochester 25½ miles Section 1b Leaving Canterbury by the A2050 , the road crosses the Great Stour and up the hill to meet the A2 at Upper Harbledown. After passing through Broughton Street as a declassified road the road is represented by the A2 all the way to Roman Rochester on the river Medway. On its way is passes through Sittingbourne (Durolevo, place name no. 36), - making a little loop in the town centre - and crossing the A249 Maidstone to Sheerness road at Key Street . The Roman road and A2 goes directly through Gillingham and Chatham to Rochester (Durobrivae, place name no. 35) and crossed the Medway near the cathedral.

Section 1c: Rochester to London 28¾ miles Section 1c Having bridged the Medway at Strood , the Roman road climbs out of the valley (still as the A2 ) to be met at Park Pale by the M2 . The road underlies the modern dual carriageway to the settlement of Vagniacis (Springhead, place name no.34) just to the east of the GSJ serving the A2260 . Shortly after this the A2 veers south while the Roman road continues as the A296 and then the B2500 and the A226 through Dartford to Crayford (Noviomagus, place name no. 33). After crossing the river Darent the road continues, as the A207 , past Bexley, through Eltham Common to a point at TQ400773 , on the high ground east of Greenwich Park. Although the route of the ancient road is largely obscured by London 's buildings, it's generally believed to follow, or be close by to, The Old Kent Road (still the A2 ) to the London to Lewes Roman (Margary no.

14) road at Asylum Road, Peckham (grid ref TQ346775 ). The Old Kent Road is followed another mile then at this point Margary's route 1c turns north and head via Southwark to the Roman Thames bridge and Londinium (place name no. 32). Although there is no direct evidence, it is probable that the original Roman route going north west headed for a river crossing near Vauxhall Bridge . After crossing the Thames the road passed along the east edge of Hyde Park ( A4202 ) to join the A5 at Marble Arch . Section 1d: London (Marble Arch) to St Albans 19 miles Section 1d At Marble Arch , Watling Street crosses the Silchester Road (Margery no. 4) - now Oxford Street, Bayswater Road, and westward (the A40 ). It then strikes on a direct alignment north west along the Edgware Road ( A5 ) through Maida Vale and Cricklewood to the Roman settlement at Brockley Hill ( Sulloniacis , place name no. 31).

At this point the road make two changes of alignment within two miles, crossing the M1 junction 4 and the A41 , and making a new alignment to St Albans as the A5183 . It passes trough Radlett and Park Street to come to a large roundabout at St Julian's Wood serving the A405 and the A414 (west of here formerly M10 ). It then continues as far as the parish church at St Stephens where the A road veers of to St Albans city centre. The Roman road, however, carries on along the alignment across the Park to arrive at the east gate of Verulamium (place name no. 30). Section 1e: St Albans to Towcester 38½ miles Section 1e The Roman road resumes the other side of Verulamium Park, running alongside and then crossing the river Ver. Here it is rejoined by the A5183 to the edge of Redbourn. The A road bypasses the town on the east side while the Roman road passes straight through along the High Street and Dunstable Road.

At Friars Wash (junction 9 of the M1 ) the A5 returns to the line of Watling Street, passing through Dunstable (Durocobrivis, place name 29) and on up to Little Brickhill, where a bypass removes the A5 from the village, while the Roman road passes through. At the north end of Little Brickhill bypass, Kellys Kitchen Roundabout , and a litle further on the road passes through the small settlement at Dropshort (Magiovinium, place name no. 28). Watling Street becomes part of Milton Keynes ' grid road system , taking the number V4 (the A5 passes through the new city on an offline dual carriageway). In Central Bletchley the grid road system turns Watling Street into a back street, to send traffic via Denbigh Roundabout , but the diversion of traffic is short lived. After crossing into Northamptonshire just north of Stony Stratford, the A5 returns to the Roman road's route, entering Towcester (Lactodorum, place name no. 27) from the south east.

Section 1f: Towcester to High Cross 28 miles Section 1f Watling Street leaves Towcester by continuing north west along the A5 . After crossing the river Tove it comes to the busy roundabout junction with the A43 . It then climbs the hill past a transport cafe on left and heads for Weedon. This fast road then sweeps down into Weedon to a set of traffic lights controlling the A45 intersection. From here the Roman road is almost entirely rural to Atherstone, Warwickshire , encroached on only by the occasional small settlement or business park. From Weedon the road is shadowed for the next four miles by the M1 to its east, and passes through the Roman settlement of Bannaventa (Whilton Lodge, near Buckby, place name 26). Shortly we reach the Northamptonshire locality known – like the nearby farm (and former inn), as well as the M1 Service Area of the same name a little further to the southeast – as the Watford Gap, after the relatively low-lying cleft which cuts through the ridge of hills running south west to north east at this point.

Roman road, turnpike, canal, railway, and motorway have all in their turn made for this undramatic but strategically vital gap in the hills. The A5 swings off to the left down into Kilsby ( A361 here) and out the other side to rejoin the Roman predecessor by DIRFT ( Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal). Just prior to this the road is crossed by the A428 Rugby to Northampton road. The original line of the Roman road here can be followed as a byway open to all traffic (BOAT) from OS grid reference SP582706 to SP567735 . The road then passes Daventry Radio Station on the left before climbing over Dunsmore hill and then diving under the M6 motorway. A little further on it passes trough the settlement of Tripontium at Cave's Inn (place name "25a" - 25a as it wasn't listed in the Antonine Itinerary but elsewhere in the Roman evidence).

From here it makes a steady climb up to Gibbet Hill - A426 - and then on to the roundabout at Magna Park - A4303 (a link to M1 Junction 20 and B4228 . Five miles further it reaches the Roman settlement at High Cross. Section 1g: High Cross to Wall 25½ miles Section 1g Britain's two longest Roman Roads cross at this (formerly) quiet place in Leicestershire . The Fosse Way approaches High Cross from the south along the B4455 and leaves by a long track - part of the Leicestershire round - to be met by the B4114 at Stoney Bridge. The Road continues then to Leicester (Ratae). The Romans built a small fort at Venonis (place name 25) to supervise traffic at this important junction, later developing a small civic settlement. Watling Street leaves the settlement as the current A5 , and heads towards another settlement at Mancetter (Manduessedum, place name 24) near Atherstone.

From here it continues through Atherstone, rejoining the A5 near the railway station, and on to the the M42 junction at Quarry Hill, Tamworth . At this point the A5 travels along the Tamworth 'bypass' while the Roman road continues directly along the B5404 though Fazeley to Bonehill. Here is crosses the A453 Birmingham to Nottingham Road. Half a mile further on is small roundabout with the A5 westward slip-road off. Going straight on, Watling Street is followed by an unclassified former A5 through Hints to the M6 Toll junction T4, A5 , and A38 interchange at Weeford Interchange . From here the road is below the A5 as a former three lane road to the interchange with junction T5 of the M6 Toll, the A5148 coming south from the A38 , and the A5127 Sutton Coldfield to Lichfield road.

The Roman road went straight though this modern contrivance, but today you have to turn north onto the A5127 and, after half a mile, turn left onto the unclassified road to Wall (Letocetum, place name 23). Half way along this short length of lane (the former A5 ) in the fields to the south is where Watling Street was crossed by Ryknild Street at grid ref SK106062 . An account of the fort and settlement may be found here . You can rest awhile at the Trooper Inn. Section 1h: Wall to Wroxeter 33¾ miles Section 1h Now refreshed, you can embark on the long trek across Staffordshire into Shropshire . The Roman Road is followed for the most part by the A5 , except for a digression around Telford and further west. From Wall the road it met by the modern A5 dual carriageway to its junction with the A461 at Muckley Corner .

From there is continues straight on north of Brownhills passing the A5195 and B5011 at New Town and passes Brownhills West to a large roundabout where it's joined by the Chester Road ( A452 ). It changes alignment slightly north and sets off for the B5154 roundabout near Norton Canes. From there the road is shadowed by the M6 Toll at its northern side to the messy interchange at Churchbridge . Here it's met by the M6 Toll (again), the A34 , and the A460 . Having negotiated three roundabouts within ½ mile the road dives under a railway bridge and into the Cannock urban area through Bridgtown. At the roundabout with the A4601 which heads towards Wolverhampton the road breaks into the countryside and through the hamlet of Four Crosses to junction 12 of the M6 . Beyond the M6 the road passes through Gailey and crosses the A449 roundabout before reaching the Roman settlement of Pennocrucium, place name 22 at Water Eaton.

For the next twelve miles the road has a straight alignment to Redhill, intersecting with the A41 near Weston-under-Lizard. Further on it crosses the B4379 and - passing through the Roman settlement of Vxacona (place name 21) near Redhill - along to a roundabout that marks the edge of Telford , with the A4640 running north and south and the A5 off left to ultimately meet the M54 at junction 5 . On this long stretch the road passes under Stretton Aqueduct , built by Thomas Telford in 1832 to carry the Shropshire Union Canal. Actually, Watling Street carries on directly as local roads through Oakengates, Ketley, and south Wellington to beside junction 7 of the M54 . (To find your way on to the old road you must turn right at the A4640 and then first left through the housing estate. Turn right at the end and you're back on track.) Once through Oakengates you can pick up the road again as the B5061 . The B road takes a swing around Overley Hill whereas the Roman Road went over the top!

It then goes under the modern A5 dual carriageway . The B5061 is the renumbered A5 along this stretch. Three mile on you come to Norton hamlet when you turn left onto the B4394 and set down ½ a mile along on the left - Wroxeter Roman City (Viroconium, place name 20). Watling Street

Question: Which ancient road linked Wroxeter to Dover via St Albans
Answer: Watling Street